23 May Supporting self-build

Built by us, built by you – either way – the building of considered and considerate homes has got to be a good thing.

With the Government recently pledging £30m of funding to the self-build market and launching a new self-build portal (http:www.selfbuildportal.org.uk/), the idea of designing and creating your own, uniqie and hopefully ecologically sound home has firmly arrived.

For us, as a local building firm, it can mean working in two quite distinct ways.Either traditionally, as a main contractor. Effectively solely or co-project managing the build with the client and/or architect, designing a schedule of works and bringing to site all our recommended trades and craftspeople to build to a final design and set of detailed plans.Alternatively, and where the client is taking more control and possibly completing some of the building work themselves, we then design a more flexible and bespoke building solution. Essentially, providing a building ‘kit of parts’ to suit the client. This could mean completing only a few key phases of the build as well as where needed, providing a one-off consultancy style service where we help in the planning stages of the overall project management and admin of the build.

All we know is that we would love to see more people take control of their own housing futures and if we can be just part of that, then all the better.

As a start, for anyone interested, here are some useful links. Over the coming months, we’ll be finding out about some stand-out self-build programmes in our area, writing about success stories together with some cautionary tales for those first-timers considering building their own dream home. A home designed around their family; their environment; their needs and future hopes.

Support to deliver new homes and support aspiration 12. We are taking immediate action to get the housing market moving through:supporting and encouraging more individuals to build their own homes through a Custom Homes programme, including making available up to £30 million of new funding to support provision of short-term project finance on a repayable basis. ‘Wealdon’ Courtesy of Woodford Architecture + Interiors based in Ashburton, Devon. http://www.woodfordarchitecture.com/